It was superb to have Samoa back competing for the first time since 2017. Samoa Hockey Federation now has 2 Development Officers in place who will take their learnings back home, OHF expects to see them challenging other NAs over the next years as they regain their membership numbers.
The men’s competition was very competitive. The semifinals and finals were extremely close contests with both semis and the final going to challenge shootouts.
The bronze medal match between the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu was action end to end as both teams tried to get the upper hand and it was a superb deflection from Vanuatu’s Limus Johnson that finally broke the deadlock.
Papua New Guinea’s team was the big improver since the World Cup Qualifier in July and they really challenged Fiji in the final. The result in the Round Robin was a comfortable victory to Fiji (5-3) but in the final PNG came out firing and the tension mounted as good goalkeeping from both teams kept it scoreless and forced the gold medal into a challenge shootout which Fiji won 3-2.
Fiji now prepare for the World Cup Hockey 5s in Oman in late January 2024 and Oceania Hockey Federation wishes them well in competing in their first ever FIH World Cup Hockey 5s.
See attached results pdf files.
